Contact: Karen Bane
Organization Web Site: http://www.scc.ca.gov
About the California State Coastal Conservancy
The California State Coastal Conservancy (SCC), established in 1976, is a state agency that uses entrepreneurial techniques to purchase, protect, restore, and enhance coastal resources. The state legislature, recognizing that creative approaches would be needed to preserve California’s coast for future generations, created the Conservancy as a unique entity that works closely with government, citizens and the private sector. The Conservancy also provides support for the state’s new multi-agency California Ocean Protection Council, which helps coordinate and improve the protection and management of California's ocean and coastal resources.
About the Partnership
In 2007, NOAA’s Community-based Restoration Program established a partnership with the California State Coastal Conservancy. The partnership is working to fund and implement priority state-wide projects identified by the Conservancy and NOAA, and priority projects identified by the Southern California Wetlands Recovery Project.
In the first year, the NOAA-SCC partnership has contributed funding for studies related to dam removal and restoration for both the Klamath and Carmel Rivers. Funding was also provided for the removal of two fish passage barriers in Carpinteria Creek, located south of Santa Barbara. NOAA and the state have identified the Carpinteria Creek watershed as a priority restoration area for the recovery of federally endangered steelhead trout.
Southern California Wetlands Recovery Project
The Southern California Wetlands Recovery Project (SCWRP) is a broad-based partnership that supports public agencies, non-profit organizations, scientists and local communities working cooperatively to protect and restore rivers, streams, and wetlands in coastal southern California. SCWRP is chaired by the California Resources Agency and supported by the Conservancy. Using a non-regulatory approach and an ecosystem perspective, SCWRP works to identify wetland acquisition and restoration priorities, prepare plans for these priority sites, pool funds to undertake these projects, implement priority plans, and oversee post-project maintenance and monitoring.
